Irish Heavyweight Contenders

HomicideHenry · Post by **HomicideHenry** » 28 Jun 2006, 00:38

There have been a few Irish-Americans who have held the crown, or even challenged for the crown, the most notable names were John L. Sullivan, James J. Braddock, Jack Sharkey.

The only native born Irishmen to ever challenge for the title was:

#1- Jem Roche

#2- Tom Sharkey

Roche, is a puzzling pugilist to me at least, as his record is so short, and it appears that his very first pro fight was for the title against Tommy Burns. It leads me to the conclusion that in his pro debut, and was declared the champion of Ireland, that Roche must have been a bare-knuckle boxing champion of that country, and fought Jefferies in his first Marquis of Queensbury match up---I only draw to this conclusion as BoxRec.com does not count London Prize Ring rules battles. He never really became a success as a Marquis of Queensbury fighter.

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Tom Sharkey, no relation to later title holder Jack Sharkey, was arguably the most dirtiest Heavyweight fighter of his time, using his head, shoulders, elbows---anything short of an iron maiden---to his advantage. In a time when knockout victories were rare, he once knocked out 19 men in a row in four rounds or less! Standing only 5'8" Sharkey was a powerfully built man, even by today's standards. He faced James J. Jefferies for the title going the distance, but failing to take the title away from "The Boiler Maker"---Jefferies would always say that Sharkey was the toughest opponent that he ever had. Many considered him to be an uncrowned champion.

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It has been well over 107 years that an Irishman has faced off for the title of Heavyweight Champion---now the challenger is 6'6" 270 pound giant Kevin McBride, whose TKO of Mike Tyson shocked the world. McBride realises how big a deal this is, as he said "Hopefully, third time is the charm!"

Though nobody really gives him a chance at all against WBO champion Sergai Lehoyavich, one must remember how many doubted his chances when he faced Lamon Brewster...and how many doubted McBride as well, and as open as the division is today, and as inconsistant the "big men" are, maybe the Irishman with his big heart, and even bigger dreams, against such big odds, may prevail.

barry · Post by **barry** » 28 Jun 2006, 03:05

The Roche record in the database is incomplete. I don't have his record handy, but he won around 27 fights total.

McBride...I don't think he has much of a chance. The Tyson loss was an upset only because McBride did not bring much to the table, but it was not really a shock as any fighter that can last past four rounds at this point will beat Tyson...any heavyweight...when Tyson gets tired now he quits...McBride won because Tyson gave up because he was tired...it wasn't like McBride put a beating on Tyson.

But no one belt is any better than the other...they are all bogus unless a heavyweight can unify each.

AndreWardFan2006 · Post by **AndreWardFan2006** » 28 Jun 2006, 03:29

Too bad there haven't been many irish born heavyweight champs...i'm almost entirely irish, so i look up to Braddock and Sharkey. I hope McBride comes out on top

dr_devious · Post by **dr_devious** » 28 Jun 2006, 05:15

In the 19th Century a number of Irishmen challenged for or held the "title" as it was then e.g. Paddy Ryan and Joe Coburn were American heavyweight champions which was equivalent to world champion in those days (more credible title credentials than fighting Lyachovich for the WBO title), and Jack "the Irish Lad" Burke fought Sullivan in a title fight.

Ambling Alp · Post by **Ambling Alp** » 28 Jun 2006, 23:16

James J Corbett was also an Irish-American.

Lenny · Post by **Lenny** » 29 Jun 2006, 05:52

I'm not convinced McBride would beat Colin Kenna let alone Lyakhovich

Crease · Post by **Crease** » 29 Jun 2006, 07:47

ALSO, wasn't Ken Norton born in county Derry, Nothern Ireland...

barry · Post by **barry** » 29 Jun 2006, 12:26

I Can't believe Peter Maher was forgotten until now! Maher was actually proclaimed heavyweight champion as James Corbett gave him his title on 11/11/1895 after Maher knocked out Steve O'Donnell. That bout was promoted as for the world heavyweight title.

AndreWardFan2006 · Post by **AndreWardFan2006** » 29 Jun 2006, 12:50

Crease wrote:ALSO, wasn't Ken Norton born in county Derry, Nothern Ireland...

Norther Ireland is part of the United Kingdom.

Expug · Post by **Expug** » 29 Jun 2006, 16:10

Irish Americans Fought for the Heavyweight Crown.

Billy Conn
Jerry Quarry
Gerry Cooney
Jake Kilrain
Tommy Gibbons
Bill Brennan

Irish Born old time heavyweights
Dan Donnelly-Born 1788 Dublin
Jack Langan - Born 1798 Clondaton
Simon Byrne born 1806
Ned O'Baldwin Born 1830 Lismore
Yankee Sullivan Born 1830 Cork
Joe Coburn born1835
Mike McCoole born 1837
Jim Dunne born 1842 Kildare
John Morrisey born 1831
Jim Elliott born 1838
Paddy Ryan born 1853 Tipperary

Champs before Queensbury.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 30 Jun 2006, 05:15

wasn't 'Jack Sharkey' an adopted name and the old champ was in fact Polish or something?

Remember reading something along those lines years ago...

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 30 Jun 2006, 05:20

yep, just looked it up.

Jack Sharkey's real name was Joseph Paul Zukauskas.

Now unless Zukauskas is a Gaelic family name from Connamara in the west of Ireland that I am unfamiliar with, I think you should strike Jack from your list!

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 30 Jun 2006, 05:21

Crease wrote:ALSO, wasn't Ken Norton born in county Derry, Nothern Ireland...

Cap · Post by **Cap** » 13 Mar 2008, 08:03

What about Jack Doyle "The Gorgeous Gael". He was a rated contender at one time.

Slainte!

Cap

donnellon · Post by **donnellon** » 13 Mar 2008, 09:44

After Maher and Sharkey, Jim Coffey was the best Native contender. Bill Brennan was not Irish, dispite RRB claims to the contart.

delisa · Post by **delisa** » 13 Mar 2008, 12:02

Peter Corcoran

http://www.cyberboxingzone.com/boxing/corcoran.htm

Ezzard · Post by **Ezzard** » 13 Mar 2008, 12:37

What qualifies as Irish-American? Didn't Ali have an Irish grandparent? If so shouldn't he qualify?

Cap · Post by **Cap** » 13 Mar 2008, 13:10

Bartley Madden was born in County Galway.

Cap

ebeneezer · Post by **ebeneezer** » 13 Mar 2008, 14:32

Cap wrote:What about Jack Doyle "The Gorgeous Gael". He was a rated contender at one time.

Slainte!

Cap

Doyle was a genuine mainstream celebrity in Britain during the 30s.

Some of the trainers who worked with him in America said he was the biggest wastes of talent they had ever seen.

Martin Sosa Cameron · Post by **Martin Sosa Cameron** » 31 Mar 2008, 17:25

Hey, boys,

Please, see this, not only on heavyweights:

ALL-TIME IRISH BOXERS

http://www.boxrec.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... sc&start=0

JC · Post by JC » 31 Mar 2008, 17:54

TerribleTerry wrote:wasn't 'Jack Sharkey' an adopted name and the old champ was in fact Polish or something?

Remember reading something along those lines years ago...

Jack Sharkey was indeed of eastern European decent although it was Lithuanian rather than Polish. If you look back over the thread though I believe HH was referring to Tom Sharkey who was from Dundalk.

When he started boxing Zukauskas chose to adopt the name Sharkey, most likely because like "sailor Tom" he had been in the navy hence his ring name "The Boston Gob."

Expug · Post by **Expug** » 31 Mar 2008, 18:03

J-C, welcome back.

JC · Post by JC » 31 Mar 2008, 18:33

Hi Expug, glad to see you're still on here. Hope everything is going well for you.

Crease · Post by **Crease** » 01 Apr 2008, 04:54

I live in Northern Ireland, and I know that when you're "Norther Irish" (born in this country anyway) you have got DUAL NATIONALITY...

You were born on the island of Ireland

BUT

You are still under the Queens rule.

So, Norton can be British or Irish, it just dpends on what he wants to be...